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January - February 2008, Jodhpur Project
2nd report by Gernot Rohrmoser
If I could put you in a frame, I’d draw you smiling, with a secret on your lips and your hands reaching out for something. If I could wear all your clothes, I’d still be different, and if I had your speaking voice, I’d never whisper, I’d talk and talk and talk.
I guess these lines describe best what these girls are all about. Charming, colourful butterflies, meant to brighten their environment, vulnerable but strong like a thunderstorm, beautiful and gentle in their expressions and gestures, sometimes wild and choleric like a lion on the hunting ground, sometimes helpless like a baby bird, unable to escape its nest. And sometimes the desire to open up one’s minds vanishes in insecurity.
Have a look into their eyes and you will face an ocean of pain, suffering and desolation, but suffused with warmth and tenderness. Imagine that once they open their eyes, a flash of peaceful light sears vividly. How often must they have cried, silent and disregarded? And how often do they remember times of unwept tears? What will they feel before they fall asleep? When they quietly gaze at a candle with their deep dark eyes glittering like stars over a black veil? Do they think that its melting produces light? If its wick burns will it benefit others? Why should I melt? What will be gained when I start to brighten?
Lots of questions. Lots of emotions. Lots of tears. And what will happen after planting a seed in their innocent souls? A tree of self-esteem, self-consciousness and self-belief will grow wild and unabashed. And every little thought will be nurtured to become a positive action.
Maybe some people would not allow their daughters or wives to participate in the Trust because they are not willing to understand its purpose, or because they would lose an additional source of income. But basically these girls belong to the first empowered generation and they surely will pass on the ideas and philosophy of the Sambhali Trust to their children. Let’s call it “the Sambhali butterfly effect”. You can imagine what it means to me to have the privilege of being part of such a great project, and how it feels to be surrounded by such incredible natural beauty.
A lot has happened over the last month. Sophie stopped volunteering, but is still present in the background, supporting me with valuable information and always prepared to fight for the girls. She is still closely connected to the them, which proves that she did a wonderful job. Thank you very much Sophie!!
At the beginning of my time here (around Jan. 15th ), Justin, a film and directing student from the US, joined and supported the trust by making a documentary on the “Untouchables community”. He is going to show his work at several film festivals. With help from him, Govind and I managed to get sewing machines and stands, which allows the participants more time to practice, and, moreover, permits them to work at home.
Around the same time Ann and Lynn (from Belgium and the UK respectively) visited the trust, but unfortunately they couldn’t find any way to contribute on the ground. They therefore decided to ensure that one of the girls, Bharathi, could start to attend school by contributing financial aid, a generous gesture which was very gratefully received. Thank you so much, Ann and Lynn!! They also left some valuable suggestions concerning how to improve the atmosphere in the class room of the NGO. We took their proposals very seriously and continue to act on them even now. For example, we requested Pammy, Saraswati and Reena to design and embroider a unique Sambhali Trust sign. We have also drawn a Sambhali Trust tree on the wall on which the girls have placed photographs of themselves wherever they feel comfortable. Now we have an impression of how they see themselves, their function and their status among the other girls. From this, we realized that Asha, a new participant, felt marginalized within the group, and that helping her integrate should be done with care and consideration. Sonya, Saraswati and Meera, meanwhile put their pictures on the top of the tree because suggesting a feeling of empowerment.
Since the girls show such a passion and flare for music and dance, we replaced the temperamental old tape recorder with a new CD player, which has allowed them to perfect their dance sequences. And guess what happened? They use it sometimes to party, to show off hip-hop style! That’s just as it should be. All work and no play make a dull girl…
What else has happened at the Trust? Some of Govind’s friends who run a stylish modern barber shop did a hair-care workshop, which saw most of the participants get an exciting new haircut for free. You cannot imagine how different they looked afterwards, just like new people! Personally, I learned a very important lesson that day in terms of how Indians and especially Untouchables conceive of their lives. While Westerners tend to live for the future, mostly concerned with having security, insurance, wealth and so on, many people here live quite differently - they are forced to exist for the moment, to take each day as it comes, since their lives could change at any time. It is with this in mind that I feel the Trust develops - the girls shaping the experience as it shapes them.
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